Convenors Update
Convenor Reports
Greens
The recent dry spell has very much curtailed planned maintenance programmes and daily irrigation has been prioritised to sustain greens. In 2024 the watering system was not used other than to wash in top soil however in the last month the greens have been soaked on a daily basis.
Biological feeds which improve and fortify greens cannot be applied in periods of sustained direct sunlight but with the forecast about to change, dressings will be applied when deemed appropriate and in the coming weeks, as the greens soften, light tining will be carried out and treatment will recommence. Members will be updated in this regard.
In the longer term, bunkers will be upgraded and improved. In the meantime, it is apparent that raking following bunker shots has lapsed in some cases. Please rake after your you have played your bunker shot.
Match & Handicap
We have had a very successful start to the 2025 Competition season. Participation has been very good and the weather has been even better. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves during Golf Week.
Our biggest upcoming event is the Club Championship being held June 7th, 8th, and then the final 2 rounds June 14th and 15th.
Well done to all participants and winners up to this stage and we hope to see you all out on the course playing in comps the rest of the summer.
The Trackman in the swing room has been having some issues that I am working on fixing. The Trackman rep is going to be making a trip down to service the machine and I have someone coming to do maintenance on the computer. For now, you should be able to use the range function and if you want to play a course make sure you pick one that does not say "VIRTUAL 3". These typically work better.
House
The prolonged dry spell of weather has not only increased the numbers playing the Championship and Pans courses, but it has also brought with it an increase in use of the Clubhouse and its facilities. It has been good to see the Clubhouse so busy during April and May with Members and Visitors alike enjoying the choices available on the new Day and Evening menus (often supplemented with daily specials).
This busy trend continues over the coming weeks, with a number of large party bookings already in the restaurant diary. Members, looking to have a meal in the Clubhouse, would be advised to check availability and book a table in advance through 01586 810213 (Option 2).
Feedback - As part of the ongoing review of its activities, the Club will be introducing feedback survey forms. These forms will give Members and Visitors the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences at Machrihanish Golf Club, be it on the Championship or Pans Courses, in the Pro Shop, and/or in the Clubhouse. The forms will be available through scanning a QR code and full details will be issued when these feedback facilities are available for use.
Whisky Flights - During March, a very successful whisky tasting night was held showcasing whiskies from Springbank and Glen Scotia distilleries. As a follow up to this, the Club has recently introduced two whisky flights, the Par and the Eagle Flights, to allow Members and Visitors to sample four locally produced whiskies in each flight. Full details of each whisky in the Flights are available from Front of House staff. The Eagle Flight even allows you the chance to write your own tasting note for the final whisky in that Flight! Good luck and Enjoy.
Swing Room - Unfortunately, the Trackman continues to have some glitches in its operation particularly when trying to play a chosen golf course. Ari Techner, Match and Handicap Convener, has kindly volunteered to look into this. He has organised the Trackman Rep to visit the club to service the machine and at the same time have the computer serving the Trackman serviced. Until this work has been completed, the golf range function can be used and if you want to play a course, please ensure that the chosen course does not say “VIRTUAL 3”. These typically work better. Further update on progress will be issued when matters resolved.
Coffee Machine - At the April Committee Meeting, it was agreed that a Coffee Machine would be purchased and installed in the foyer area outside the entrances to the Locker Rooms. It will dispense the same brand of coffee served upstairs in the Clubhouse. The machine will take Debit/Credit Card payments only. Additional Power and Water supplies are required and this work will take place in the near future to allow the installation to take place.
Club V1 - has been updated on the Bar/Restaurant till and has brought with it some new features such as sharing or splitting bills. This new facility will be welcomed by both Members and Visitors alike. In addition, the ClubV1 App has been updated to allow Members to see their current Membership Card balance. By clicking on the balance, a full list of transactions is displayed, and by clicking on each individual entry, the date, time, Front of House Cashier and a full list of purchases and any discount applied are displayed. Again, hopefully Members will find this a useful facility to have.
The recent dry spell has very much curtailed planned maintenance programmes and daily irrigation has been prioritised to sustain greens. In 2024 the watering system was not used other than to wash in top soil however in the last month the greens have been soaked on a daily basis.
Biological feeds which improve and fortify greens cannot be applied in periods of sustained direct sunlight but with the forecast about to change, dressings will be applied when deemed appropriate and in the coming weeks, as the greens soften, light tining will be carried out and treatment will recommence. Members will be updated in this regard.
In the longer term, bunkers will be upgraded and improved. In the meantime, it is apparent that raking following bunker shots has lapsed in some cases. Please rake after your you have played your bunker shot.
Match & Handicap
We have had a very successful start to the 2025 Competition season. Participation has been very good and the weather has been even better. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves during Golf Week.
Our biggest upcoming event is the Club Championship being held June 7th, 8th, and then the final 2 rounds June 14th and 15th.
Well done to all participants and winners up to this stage and we hope to see you all out on the course playing in comps the rest of the summer.
The Trackman in the swing room has been having some issues that I am working on fixing. The Trackman rep is going to be making a trip down to service the machine and I have someone coming to do maintenance on the computer. For now, you should be able to use the range function and if you want to play a course make sure you pick one that does not say "VIRTUAL 3". These typically work better.
House
The prolonged dry spell of weather has not only increased the numbers playing the Championship and Pans courses, but it has also brought with it an increase in use of the Clubhouse and its facilities. It has been good to see the Clubhouse so busy during April and May with Members and Visitors alike enjoying the choices available on the new Day and Evening menus (often supplemented with daily specials).
This busy trend continues over the coming weeks, with a number of large party bookings already in the restaurant diary. Members, looking to have a meal in the Clubhouse, would be advised to check availability and book a table in advance through 01586 810213 (Option 2).
Feedback - As part of the ongoing review of its activities, the Club will be introducing feedback survey forms. These forms will give Members and Visitors the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences at Machrihanish Golf Club, be it on the Championship or Pans Courses, in the Pro Shop, and/or in the Clubhouse. The forms will be available through scanning a QR code and full details will be issued when these feedback facilities are available for use.
Whisky Flights - During March, a very successful whisky tasting night was held showcasing whiskies from Springbank and Glen Scotia distilleries. As a follow up to this, the Club has recently introduced two whisky flights, the Par and the Eagle Flights, to allow Members and Visitors to sample four locally produced whiskies in each flight. Full details of each whisky in the Flights are available from Front of House staff. The Eagle Flight even allows you the chance to write your own tasting note for the final whisky in that Flight! Good luck and Enjoy.
Swing Room - Unfortunately, the Trackman continues to have some glitches in its operation particularly when trying to play a chosen golf course. Ari Techner, Match and Handicap Convener, has kindly volunteered to look into this. He has organised the Trackman Rep to visit the club to service the machine and at the same time have the computer serving the Trackman serviced. Until this work has been completed, the golf range function can be used and if you want to play a course, please ensure that the chosen course does not say “VIRTUAL 3”. These typically work better. Further update on progress will be issued when matters resolved.
Coffee Machine - At the April Committee Meeting, it was agreed that a Coffee Machine would be purchased and installed in the foyer area outside the entrances to the Locker Rooms. It will dispense the same brand of coffee served upstairs in the Clubhouse. The machine will take Debit/Credit Card payments only. Additional Power and Water supplies are required and this work will take place in the near future to allow the installation to take place.
Club V1 - has been updated on the Bar/Restaurant till and has brought with it some new features such as sharing or splitting bills. This new facility will be welcomed by both Members and Visitors alike. In addition, the ClubV1 App has been updated to allow Members to see their current Membership Card balance. By clicking on the balance, a full list of transactions is displayed, and by clicking on each individual entry, the date, time, Front of House Cashier and a full list of purchases and any discount applied are displayed. Again, hopefully Members will find this a useful facility to have.